Every year, approximately 7,000 brave souls opt to become referees but more than 50 per cent have blown their final whistle within 12 months of crossing over to the dark side.

Aspiring referees are given a master class at the FA’s new National HQ at Burton.

Every year, approximately 7,000 brave souls opt to become referees but more than 50 per cent have blown their final whistle within 12 months of crossing over to the dark side.

Ridiculed, abused, even seriously assaulted, referees are first to be criticised and last to be praised whether a game of football is played at Hough End or Wembley.

But not all men in black fall by the wayside. Some, like former Premier League officials Dermot Gallagher and Steve Dunn, make it all the way to the top.

And they remain eager to spread the gospel, even to a bunch of cynical hacks and media types, including myself.

St Georges Park, Burton – the Football Association’s multi million pounds ‘Dream Factory’ – was the venue for our training day under the watchful eyes of Gallagher and Dunn, the latter now a coach for the Professional Game Match Officials Board.

Topics

The aim was to highlight the newly formed FA Carlsberg Referees’ Awards to highlight the work done by referees from grassroots to the top flight.

So, having doled out a few red and yellow cards, received a quick fire lesson in the rudiments of ‘lining’ and taken charge of a small-sided game, it was back to the classroom to grill the pair about hot topics of the day.

TB:
“Would you have embraced goal line technology when you were refereeing?”

DG:
“Without a shadow of doubt. In 2003, I didn’t give a goal at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fifth round when Tommy Black scored.

“The ball was over the line but I didn’t know.

“Trevor Francis said to me after the game: ‘You have cost us a million pounds.’ I went home and really beat myself up about it.

“That upset on both sides could have been avoided with goal line technology. When you see a goal like Frank Lampard scored at the World Cup in South Africa disallowed wrongly, the repercussions are phenomenal.

“The referee and his assistants were sent home and they were finished at the top level. How much investment was wasted at getting those men to that level only to be ruined?

“When Clint Hill had a goal disallowed at Bolton last season that could have sent QPR down and you are talking millions of pounds and lots of jobs.”

TB:
“Should you not then extend technology into other areas of the game?

DG:
“The goal line is a statement of fact. No one can argue with that. But from all the clips we showed you (including Vincent Kompany’s tackle on Ryan Giggs and Glen Johnson’s tackle on Joleon Lescott) not everyone agreed on what decision to take.

“One clip we showed from three angles, one of you changed your mind three times. Tackles are subjective and you have got to trust the referee to make the right decision.”

TB:
“Do officials get sufficient respect from the media, fans, players and managers?

DG:
“It is getting far better. We’ve heard about this 50 per cent drop out rate.

“When I first started it was 90pc. In the last four or five years the pendulum has swung in the referees’ favour. People are now aware of how hard they work and how they make decisions.

“Dissent in the Premier League is down year on year. And with the Respect campaign cascading down to grass roots we have seen a major improvement in player behaviour. In Oxfordshire, where I live, yellow cards for dissent are down by 70pc.

“They also rope off the local park pitches and the teams walk out together and shake hands. You may say that’s cosmetic but if they can do it at the lowest level in football, then it sends out the right message.

“At the Charlton Athletic Academy, if you abuse one of the players, you are removed from the ground for 12 months.”

SD:
“People still get emotional about decisions referees make and that will never change. But I think there is a better understanding of the difficulties involved. The relationship between players, managers and referees is good.”

TB:
“Would you like to see ex players become referees?

DG:
“A number have approached me over the years and I have done my best to help: Tom Williams at Peterborough, Leo Fortune-West (Doncaster) and Tony Philliskirk.

“But I don’t think they realise how little money referees get when they first start out. In the Conference, refs might get three matches a month and get £100 for each. They are not going to live on that.

“They have a better of chance if they can get a coaching job which happened to Tony at Oldham. It is a difficult balancing act. Even if I fast-tracked a guy to a tributary league they only get £48 a match. I remember asking Leo how much he earned and I told him how much I earned and he just said: ‘Wow.’

“Maybe though refereeing is a way forward for youngsters who have been released from an Academy.”

Former Premier League offcial Dermot Gallagher was amongst the speakers in the master class at the FA’s new National HQ at Burton.

SD:
“I am working with Steve Parmenter who played for Gillingham, Bristol Rovers and Southend. He is now a level four referee and I can see he was an ex player because perhaps he gives them too much benefit of the doubt.

“However, it’s an opportunity we should afford ex pros. If they are keen enough and the incentive to progress it should be supported.”

TB:
“Did you ever fall foul of Sir Alex Ferguson and ‘Fergie’ time and does he intimidate officials?”

SD:
“If I said ‘no’ you would be saying I was lying! I have seen Sir Alex a few times in my role now and we can still have a laugh at some of the things in the past.

“As a referee I didn’t find Sir Alex intimidating. I never felt you couldn’t go back and have a discussion. But you are always challenged as a referee.”

TB:
“Do you believe referees should be able to comment on their decisions to the press?”

SD:
“I am not sure it would help. I liken it to managers and I’ll use Sir Alex as an example. You wouldn’t get him to come out after a game and criticise his players in the media. I see a lot of managers’ appraisals of referees and there is lot more reasoning in the reports on a Monday to what might have been said in the heat of the moment on a Saturday.

“It’s the same with referees. Their adrenaline is still pumping after a game so I don’t think giving interviews would be of benefit to anyone.”

Trevor Baxter was taking part in The FA Carlsberg Referee Awards training day at St. George’s Park. Visit www.thefa.com/referees or www.carlsberg.co.uk/football to find out more.

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